After a brief discussion on the influence which classical play
writers
had on the authors of Renaissance comedies, students
will read selected
scenes from Niccolò Machiavelli's La
Mandragola, considered
the period's greatest play because of its originality,
its literary
value as well as its historical and social significance.
As an exercise
on how a narrative work can be rewritten for the stage,
students will
read and examine one of Giovanni Boccaccio's best known
novella from
his Decameron. The major part of the course will
be dedicated
to the reading and discussion of Carlo Goldoni's La
locandiera
and to Luigi Pirandello's Pensaci, Giacomino!
Such very short
plays as Cesare Pavese Si parva licet and Mario
Fratti La
scelta will also be read and acted in class.

In addition to class presentations and discussion,
students will
be shown scenes from P.P. Pasolini's Decameron
and Alberto
Lattuada's La Mandragola.